Clay Mosby Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I have a question regarding how long i should keep a mag for a 1911 loaded before removing the rounds and letting the spring relax? I know after a time if a spring is kept compressed, it'll take a set. I don't get a chance to shoot it often enough, but keep it handy since our neighborhood isn't always the friendliest. Thanks in advance for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I use Wolff springs in my Wilson and Colt 1911 mags. They are always loaded. Never had any issues. Wolff Gunsprings are the best made http://www.gunsprings.com/ LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 No it won't. Old Wives' Tale. Springs fail by being worked. Or by being compressed or expanded beyond their working capacity. Loaded magazines have been found from WW2, loaded into guns and fired, with no problems. Leave 'em loaded and don't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Mosby Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 I have several; McCormick 10 rd mags. They're supposed to be good quality aren't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Woodrow Cahill, SASS # 54363 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 There's always some debate about spring 'set'. I've read articles about magazines that have been found that were loaded in the 1930's that 70 years later performed flawlessly. Spring fatigue and failure comes from the spring actually being worked, not sitting idle and under compression. If springs failed because of having a load on them, your car would be sitting with its frame on the ground by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Dog, SASS #20401 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 No it won't. Old Wives' Tale. Springs fail by being worked. Or by being compressed or expanded beyond their working capacity. Loaded magazines have been found from WW2, loaded into guns and fired, with no problems. Leave 'em loaded and don't worry about it. Mags and loaded 1911s have been left in dresser drawers for decades fully loaded and still function fine. Not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Spring life depends on the steel alloy, and heat treat. I switched to Wolff springs for a reason......THEY LAST, I have never had a spring issue with them. LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 That "Spring taking a set" is a myth based on 1930's era springs. Today's springs might set slightly but they don't become useless. I have fired and emptied 1911 magazines that have been loaded fully for 35 years that I know of and no malfunctions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pack Saddle Slim, SASS #73122 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Personally, I don't like my mags to remain loaded much over thirty-five years. As a result, every thirty-five years, if I haven't shot that particular magazine, I'll take it out, shoot it, reload it, and then let it sit for another thirty-five years. So far, this system has seemed to work for me. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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